Implant and a method of manufacturing an implant packed in a sterile manner

1. An orthopaedic implant comprising:

at least one first element of an orthopaedic implant and a second element of an orthopaedic implant, wherein the first element is provided in a pre-determined relative position to the second element, in particular at least partly in a recess of the second element, and the first element has a pre-positioning location with respect to the second element having play, in which the first element is constrained from removal with respect to the second element, and the first element can be displaced from the pre-positioning location into an end positioning location corresponding to a fixed assembly of both elements in which the first element has no play with respect to the second element;

wherein the second element is an inner shell of a joint prosthesis and the first element is a cover plate of the inner shell; the recess is provided in the outer wall of the inner shell with a circular cross-section, the inner shell comprising a side wall and a base, the base becoming deeper towards the centre of the recess, wherein the side wall has at least one projection directed to the centre of the recess, the cover plate is loosely held by the side wall and by the projection in the pre-positioning location; the cover plate has at least one cam which engages, in the end positioning location, into the side wall of the recess; and the cover plate can be displaced in the recess from the pre-positioning location into the end positioning location by a rotational movement, the base of the inner shell being accessible to a sterilization gas when the cover plate is in the pre-positioning location.

2. An implant in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the contact points between the first element and the second element in the recess are small in area, and the first element is connected in a force locked and shape matched manner to the second element in the end positioning location in the recess.

3. An implant in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the material of at least one of the first and second elements is selected from the group consisting of highly cross-linked ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene and another plastic.

4. An implant in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the material of one of the first and second elements includes a metal, in particular titanium.

5. An implant in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the first element is loosely held in a substantially centered manner in the pre-positioning location.

6. An implant in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the first element is held in the pre-positioning location with a play of at least 0.1 mm.

7. An implant in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the first element has one of a substantially circular and substantially star-shaped cross-section and the first element is radially and axially loosely held in the pre-positioning location in the recess.

8. An implant in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the first element is connected in the end positioning location in a force locked and shape matched manner to the second element in one of a clamping fit and by means of a snap connection.

9. An implant in accordance with claim 1 , wherein at least one receiver for the cam is provided in the side wall of the recess in the pre-positioning location.

10. An implant in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the recess has a groove extending into the recess at the transition from the side wall to the base.

11. An implant in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the side wall of the recess has an insert guide for the insertion of the first element into the pre-positioning location.

12. An implant in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising an outer shell sized to receive the inner shell and the cover plate of the inner shell.